Art was blooming abundantly this past weekend in a town whose dominant moniker is its mushroom crop.

The Kennett Library sponsored its first Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday at the campus of the former Genesis building on South Broad Street in Kennett Square. Scattered over the sprawling parking lot at the south end of town were 100 or so tents housing the work of accomplished artists and crafts-persons. 

This Kennett Arts Festival raised funds for the programs in the current and future library locations rather than the construction project of the new library building just down the street.

Library Development Associate Mary Hutchins said the income generated by the festival comes from the entrance fee of $200 by the artists and the $5 entrance fees paid by visitors. The library also sought supporting sponsors.

The most striking aspect of the show was the variety of art on display and the passion of its creators. It ranged from oils, multi-media collage and watercolors to woodwork, fabric art, sculpture, unusual kitchenware, T-shirts, photography and stationery.

There was also a family station where children were invited to create crafts and draw chalk graffiti on the asphalt. Several food trucks were on hand as well.

Much of the work for sale was unique and memorable.

Christopher Buonomo of 13 Degree Studios in Philadelphia came equipped with his carving chisels and offered one-of-a-kind wooden wall art. He was eager to talk about his craft, and he continued carving projects even as customers bought what he already had on hand.

Kevin Liang from New York City was selling landscape paintings as well as calligraphy/artwork on rice paper he had made from scratch. On the back of each rice paper piece was a unique Buddhist koan (small poem of wisdom).

Gregory Losco from Wilmington sat among his ornate collection of blown art. He said he began by creating lab equipment and then moved onto lovely glass accessories. His latest project is making tiny glass jewelry pieces that contain the cremated remains of loved ones that people can wear in memory of their friends or family members who have died.

Unlike two recent community events—the Mushroom Festival and the Unionville Community Fair – the Arts Festival did not suffer the scourge of bad weather on the second day. Skies remained blue throughout the event.

On Saturday Hutchins surveyed the sky above and what the library committee had wrought. She expressed her delight:

“The weather is great. We have the artists, and we have the customers,” she said.